Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

What model of abnormal psychology suggests that abnormality arises from a person's struggle with existential questions?

1. Psychoanalytic model

2. Cognitive model

3. Global functioning model

4. Existential-humanistic model

The correct answer is: Psychoanalytic model

The existential-humanistic model is the approach that posits that psychological distress arises from an individual's struggle with existential questions, such as the search for meaning, identity, and personal fulfillment. This model emphasizes the importance of human experiences and personal responsibility, asserting that individuals have the capacity to lead meaningful lives despite facing inherent challenges and uncertainties. In the context of mental health, this perspective encourages individuals to confront and engage with their existential dilemmas, which can include concerns about mortality, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. The existential-humanistic model advocates for therapeutic practices that foster self-exploration, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of personal growth by addressing these core issues. The other models do not focus specifically on existential questions. The psychoanalytic model centers on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences, the cognitive model emphasizes the role of thought patterns in influencing behavior and emotions, and the global functioning model looks at an individual's overall functioning across various domains rather than existential struggles. Each of these approaches has its own unique foundation and therapeutic methods, but they do not address the existential concerns that the existential-humanistic model targets.